An incredible treasure tucked away in beautiful Madison, Indiana! The scenery alone makes it worth…read morethe trip--the rolling hills, peaceful woods, and well-kept paths make you feel like you've discovered a little slice of nature's magic. The hikes are very approachable, even for families with young kids. The trails are well-marked, not overly strenuous, and give you just the right mix of exercise and relaxation. My kids loved exploring the paths, spotting wildlife, and getting the chance to just run and play in a safe outdoor space. It's a wonderful way to introduce children to hiking without overwhelming them. For families, this place is ideal. The trails are wide enough in many areas for strollers, and there are plenty of spots to pause, take in the view, or enjoy a quick snack break together. It's the kind of place where you can spend an hour or the whole afternoon and leave feeling refreshed and reconnected. What I really love is how accessible and welcoming it feels--perfect for both locals and visitors to Madison. Whether you're looking for a short nature walk, a family outing, or a peaceful hike to clear your head, these trails are a gem. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Madison, Indiana--this spot is a true treasure for families, nature lovers, and anyone who just needs a little dose of outdoor beauty.

Beautiful state park with plenty of trails, parking and sights to see! Parks, picnic tables, and…read moreaffordable to get in, especially if you're a resident.

This is a neat little naval-themed playground for the kids. It is fenced in and there are plenty…read moreof features for them to climb/play on.

Across the street from the Bicentennial Park is a mini playground that is done very well. The…read moreplayground equipment, done in patriotic colors, uses ramps for access into the "tower" that is shaped to look like a steamboat! The space isn't very big, but it clean and has a very soft/spongy floor that kids can runaround on. Even if they fall, there is enough give to keep the fall from being too painful. Over on the north side are some picnic tables for taking a break or for parents to chill while the kids play. There is also a short fence around the park since it is located on a busy corner. It helps keep the kids inside the park area without the worry of traffic. Great location and theme. If you have little kids, this is a place to check out. Review #3392

Calm relaxing environment for a leisurely stroll on a Sunday afternoon. Enjoyed the beautiful…read morewaterfalls and nature views. Highly enjoyed the meadow trail path. Will be back again in the future.

What a great local park. Just be prepared if it's rained in the recent past as pathways are mostly…read morepacked earth. Lots of pathways, beautiful scenery, waterfalls. Nice people on the paths. Dog friendly. Bathrooms available.

We did a walk in a portion of Cherokee Park on a very windy Sunday morning. We noted that cars…read morestill travel too fast for comfort when near pedestrians. Plenty of walkers, runners, bikers, dog walkers, recreational users (frisbees and kites), tailgaters, and drivers today. We stopped to catch a break near the top of the hill at Hogan's Fountain. The water fountains and faucets (to fill up dog bowls) were all operational today in mid-March. Restroom facilities were also open.

I had not been to the area in Cherokee park off of Alexander Riad fir years and ended uphiking…read morethere two days in a row. Easy access from Cherokee Road with plenty if oarilking and wady access to trails . There were some hills, steps but mostly flat. We did a combination of paved and unpaved trails. Lots of benches, people about and a couple of beautiful hiking days.

Too many drunk people for my family's liking. People were loud and rowdy well into the night. I…read morecomplained the next morning to the teenager who was working but I'm sure my complaint went no where.

My experience was nice while visiting ceraland Park. Donovyn Miller was very kind and helped me…read morewhen I didnt know where to go. I did have a bad experience with Billy, I kindly asked for directions and he ignored me. Other visitors of Ceraland wouldn't want to be ignored when simply asking for directions if its their first time visiting.

We took a "field trip" here while learning about trees in our homeschool unit and we really…read moreappreciated three things: the walking trails are very nicely maintained and paved well, all of the natural shade with benches to rest, and all of the labels & information panels on the various types of trees! The area is beautiful and a great place for a walk. My 4 star rating is coming from a desire for a better map, the ones they have are ok but I had a little bit of trouble at times, and then for being let down on 2 things I promised my kids. The "children's garden" has definitely seen better days and is very lackluster in general. There's nothing to do inside of it and we were honestly just confused. The other thing was the butterfly garden, all of the bushes were gone on our visit. In general, these things aren't a big deal but considering I had 4 small kids with me, these were 2 things advertised that we were looking forward to.

What a lovely little paved path just off the main road in the Union-Florence area! Don't let the…read morebaseball fields fool you - just follow the trail in to experience a wonderful little oasis of nature. There's plenty of parking - regardless if you're there for a baseball game or for a nice walk. We brought our dog with us, and ended up doing the entire loop in just under an hour. We'd initially pulled up this trail in the AllTrails app, and it told us this was 1.1 miles ... we're not so sure that's accurate, since it felt like we were walking for much longer than that. Next time, we'll make sure to measure how far we've gone. Either way - what a gorgeous way to start your day! The plants and trees are all labeled, and sorted into various collections. The Magnolia Collection was by far our favorite, although that's about as far back into the loop as you can get. The trail itself is well-maintained, and wasn't too busy at all on a Saturday morning around 9 a.m. There was a good age range among the folks walking ... it was nice to everyone from families to elderly couples out for a morning stroll. We'll definitely return to this paved trail - it's especially convenient after a big rain, when you don't want to hike through the mud!

Loved it! A lot of moss but super fun! Would definitely recommend! Definitely surprised that there…read morearen't any lifeguards but overall it was a good experience!

A perfect place to make you feel like you're on a mini get away. All tickets must be purchased…read moreonline and ahead of time. They are following the states restrictions and operating at a 33% capacity. I arrived at 10:30 am to get in line. It opens at 11:00. I was 4th in line and didn't get to a parking spot until 11:30. The procedure to get in is intense. Your ticket has to match your id. Then they literally search you entire car- they go through everything and open all bags, coolers, consoles, and glove box. Do not bring alcohol or drugs- they will find it and it's forbidden. Google the story as to why they are so strict- makes sense. Now on to the fun part! The space is beautiful, the water is so clear, and we had a great day of social distancing on the water. People watching was great, and it is somewhat like a float competition to see who has the most fun, instagram worthy float. Be ready to see plenty of fish. The area closest to the parking lot is more "rowdy", younger crowd, verses the opposite side was a little quieter, older crowd. All in all, I will be back now that I know what to expect.

TikTok really has opened my eyes to hidden treasures everywhere. I'm sure that I'm not the only one…read morethat feels this way. When you doom scroll, you come across many different places that are true hidden gems. Door To Nowhere, or Heigold House, is definitely an oddity and salute to the past. Some housekeeping, you know, things to know about this place. BE CAREFUL. This sits on a roundabout island with steady traffic. Be mindful to the traffic flow and businesses nearby (I parked at a nearby business off the road and walked over here). Be kind to the natural beauty that surrounds this. And most of all, be respectful. As I said, this sits on a roundabout with flowerbeds surrounding it. Whether you are facing front, as in looking at the front of the façade, or looking from the rear, please stay on the sidewalks provided. Take in the informational plaques as well. Built by Christian H Heigold, a successful stonecutter. Majority of the house was completed in 1853. Heigold was a master at stonecutting and completed the home with busts of Presidents George Washington and James Buchanan. Heigold was also a staunch opponent of the 'Know Nothing Party,' and anti-immigration political party and I would like to think that he built his house with all the busts was a big middle finger to those that were anti-immigration. This façade sat in what was known as the The Point neighborhood, which was favored by those that moved to the city from the New Orleans area. Once Louisville diverted the Beargrass Creek away from downtown, this place started to flood annually. Shifting people away from the neighborhood and then the Great Flood of 1937 happened. Slowly the city started buying houses and demolishing them. Ultimately using the land as a dump site. Then this façade was listed on the National Registry of Historical Places. Remained in that area which became Thruston Park. That is until a developer bought the land adjacent to this and build condos. They moved this massive beast, 70,000-pounds, across River Road to where it sits today.

Such amazing history, a must see spot ! Right off a main road but there is parking nearby !read more

Some parks are beautiful…read more Versailles State Park reminded me why it's worth slowing down. From the moment we arrived, there was something new to discover. The historic covered bridge feels enormous when you're standing beneath it, and stepping into the shade inside was an instant relief from the warm day outside. The weathered wood, years of wear, and little imperfections only added to its character. The waterfall became its own soundtrack for the afternoon. Between the rushing water and the constant chorus of birds, the park somehow felt full of life while remaining incredibly peaceful. A fisherman had found a quiet spot along the river, another visitor was reading beneath the trees, and everyone seemed to be enjoying the park at their own pace. One of my favorite memories came before we even started hiking. While we were sitting in the car looking over the trail map, a smiling gentleman waved from his pickup and asked, "Do you enjoy nature?" Of course we said yes. Grinning from ear to ear, he led us to a tiny opening in the trees and pointed toward the shoreline where a Great Blue Heron was quietly hiding. It's such a simple interaction, but it perfectly captured what I love about state parks. People aren't just there to enjoy nature--they're excited to help others experience it too. Later, while watching a butterfly drift along the trail, I happened to glance down at just the right moment and spotted the tiniest little frog sitting beside the path. He was still there on our hike back, and I couldn't help but smile knowing other hikers would probably get the same surprise. By the time we left, I felt completely recharged. Versailles State Park isn't a place to rush through. It's a place to wander, look up at the towering canopy, look down at the little things you'd normally miss, and let nature slow you down for a while.

Versailles State Park is a little over an hour Southeast of Indy and qualifies as Indiana's second…read morelargest state park. As I get to a new place in my current cancer journey, I'm finding that I am spending a lot of time in nature and doing bucket list items (No, I'm not dying). I've always wanted to visit Indiana's state parks and have been taking the time to start doing so. Despite its size, Versailles State Park is definitely lesser utilized than number one (Brown County). It does have the expected rolling hills of Southeastern Indiana and it has a 220-acre lake. You can rent rowboats, canoes, or kayaks. Versailles has over 20 miles of horse trails along with mountain bike and hiking trails. Located in Ripley County, the park was established in 1943. This area has a lot of historical significance including with the Civil War and the Civilian Conservation Corps. If you know the story of Morgan's Raiders, they actually made their way through this area during the Civil War. Versailles was also briefly under Confederate control. Versailles has a CCC Commemorative statue you can check out. There's quite a bit of camping within the state park. There are 238 camping sites with the majority offering electric. Versailles State Park offers a dam that's cool to visit along with a nature center. There are easy, moderate, and difficult hiking trails - as a wheelchair user, I was rather underwhelmed with accessibility options. However, I was still able to enjoy the park quite a bit. Fishing is available here along with bird watching and a variety of other activities. Versailles is fairly secluded. You're about a mile away from the nearest restaurant but you do have a variety of options within ten miles (including a motel for those who'd rather not rough it). The website has the full list of camping rates. The website also has all admission prices (there are daily and seasonal rates along with discounts for those on disability and veterans). Annual passes are for the most part good at any DNR property that charges a gate fee, though before leaving I tend to check websites just to make sure as there are some special exhibits and such that do charge a separate fee - that said, it's fairly rare. I would note that in-state fee is a bit lower than out-of-state fee (they judge by the license plate). I enjoyed my time here and could easily see some camping options. I loved the lake and did get some time on the easier trails. As I noted, accessibility options are a bit limited but DNR has overall massively improved accessibility statewide in parks. I could easily see making this a weekend trip with a stop in nearby Versailles for antiquing, nature, and history.

Nice place, a few little fishing holes. Overall can't complain kids enjoyed themselvesread more

Use to be an amazing place to go with friends during the spring and summer. This place use to allow…read morebeer in cans (if 21+) and no glass bottles, now they tear your car apart looking for alcohol and tell you that alcohol is not allowed. How are a group of adults suppose to enjoy their off day at this business if they can't simply relax and have a beer? I try to go back to this place every year thinking it's fun, but it's just not how it use to be. Staff are always rude as well. Wish I could go back 5 years when this place was at its peak.